Just like how we at Bike Auckland push for positive change on behalf of everyone who rides a bike (and everyone who wants to give it a go), Cycling Action Network (CAN) are a registered charity pedaling a vision of a bike-friendly Aotearoa NZ.
Much of CAN’s mahi (work) is focused on influencing our Central Government to create bike-friendly policies, such as successfully exempting bikes from the Fringe Benefit Tax, and being a frequent bike-friendly voice in the news. They also provide the Share the Road Programme (teaching people how to ride bikes safely around trucks, and how to drive trucks safely around bikes) and give support for other smaller cycle advocacy organisations across our country (kind of like what we at Bike Auckland do for Bike Burbs).
With the Central Governments extreme change in direction, CAN need your help to fight back for a positive future. Below, Patrick Morgan from CAN shares more about why it matters and how you can help.
Your donation is tax deductible as CAN is a registered charity.
Why give to CAN?
You love riding your bike, but wish it could be better. You want more bike lanes. You’re appalled at Government cuts to cycling, and at unsafe traffic speeds. You want real climate action.
CAN (Cycling Action Network) is our national bike advocacy charity. Since 1997, CAN has worked at a national level to persuade decision-makers to invest in cycling, and make our streets safe and attractive.
Why now?
After making good progress recently, biking is facing fierce headwinds from the Government. We need to build public support, and raise our voices for better biking.
Working with bike advocates around New Zealand, CAN has a part-time employee, and a crew of volunteers. Receiving no Government or Council funding, they need our financial support to be effective.
What has CAN achieved?
Biking is here to stay. Since bike advocates got organised in the 1990s, biking has moved from a “nice to have” to a core activity for Councils and the government.
– Cities and towns are building networks of connected and protected bike lanes.
– NZ Cycle Trails attract thousands of tourists.
– The Bike Ready programme upskills thousands of children and adults.
– CAN’s Share The Road programme builds empathy, and lowers risk from trucks and buses.
– CAN project manager Patrick Morgan is a constant and credible voice in news media, making the case for cycling.
You can see more of CAN’s achievements here.
What’s next?
All that progress is at risk. The current government has cut new cycling funding to zero. Bikelash is real. The Minister has declared cycling initiatives a waste of time and money. That’s unacceptable. CAN is dedicated to turning that around, so we can all enjoy a better biking future. We need bike heroes like you to help us achieve our vision. Please give today.
Your donation is tax deductible as CAN is a registered charity.
How do CAN and Bike Auckland work together?
Our team at Bike Auckland greatly appreciate Patrick Morgan, the wider CAN team, and the mahi they do. Many of us are CAN members as well as Bike Auckland members, and we know that many of our awesome volunteers and Bike Burb leaders are CAN members too.
We know that working together with CAN and other Kiwi cycle advocacy groups will create more progress towards a healthy, environmentally friendly, and, of course, bike-able region. So we want to make sure CAN are well supported to push through the fierce headwinds from the Central Government. And of course we will continue to push through on behalf of Tāmaki Makaurau locally as well!
Patrick has been a huge support for our team, especially when we have had a change in Chair or CBO, and especially in the heartbreaking times when someone riding a bike has died on our region’s roads.
We work closely with other cycle advocacy organisations too! Inspired by our friends at Cycle Wellington, we launched our own Cycling Works campaign (which now has over 50 sign ups!), and led concurrent memorial ceremonies in response to the move to reverse safe speeds. Earlier this year we attended the CAN-Do hui, which is a bi-annual meetup of Kiwi cycle advocacy groups run by CAN, and shared about our Inclusive Cycling Programme, challenging other advocates to think about how to be inclusive of all bike types in their advocacy. Other cycle advocacy groups often reach out to us for advice and we guide them to set up their own Bike Valet parking, Bike Trains, Biketober, or other initiatives. We are proud of the positive impact we can have on other cycle advocacy groups across Aotearoa NZ.
And, we are grateful for the opportunities CAN provides, actively connecting us cycle Kiwi advocacy groups together, and encouraging us to learn from and be inspired by each other – just like Bike Auckland provides for our network of awesome Bike Burbs!
Your donation is tax deductible as CAN is a registered charity.
